Alec Asher Promoted to Triple-A Round Rock
May 23, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Frisco RoughRiders News Release
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (MAY 23, 2015) - The Texas Rangers announced today that right-handed pitcher Alec Asher has been promoted from Frisco to Triple-A Round Rock. In a corresponding roster move, left-handed hurler Frank Lopez joins the RoughRiders from Advanced-A High Desert. Lopez is slated to make his Double-A debut as Frisco's starting pitcher in tonight's game at San Antonio.
This will be the first promotion to Triple-A for Asher, 23, who started eight games for the Riders this season and went 1-4 record with a 3.98 ERA (19 ER/43 IP), 43 strikeouts, 18 walks, and a .241 batting average against. The Rangers' fourth round selection in the 2012 draft, Asher led all Frisco pitchers in strikeouts and tossed at least five innings in six of his starts this season. He surrendered three runs or fewer in five outings. Asher's lone win came on May 2 when he threw six scoreless innings against the Corpus Christi Hooks. He struck out at least five hitters in all but one start, and whiffed a season-high seven batters on April 14 against Northwest Arkansas.
In 2014, Asher was selected as a Texas League mid-season All-Star, finishing with 11 wins and 122 strikeouts, fifth most among Texas farmhands. Asher pitched at least six innings on 16 occasions and threw at least seven frames seven times. The Rangers named him the organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Month for June.
In seven starts for High Desert, Lopez was 4-1 with a 2.95 ERA (14 ER/42.2 IP), 35 hits allowed, 43 strikeouts, eight walks and a 2.04 groundout-to-flyout ratio. Opponents were held to a .226 average against Lopez, who struck out a career-high ten hitters in his final start with the Mavericks on May 18 against Bakersfield.
The left-hander was signed by Texas as a non-drafted free agent on December 16, 2010. The 21 year-old native of San Jose de Guanipa, Venezuela went 4-3 with a 2.72 ERA (24 ER/79.1 IP), 87 strikeouts and 24 walks in 20 games (19 starts) for Hickory and the AZL Rangers in 2014. In 65 career appearances, Lopez is 16-14 with a 3.69 ERA.
Following a four-game road trip, the RoughRiders return to the Metroplex on Tuesday, May 26 to begin a six-game home stand against the Springfield Cardinals and Tulsa Drillers. For tickets to see the Riders this season, please call (972) 731-9200, e-mail Info@RidersBaseball.com or visit www.RidersBaseball.com.
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